Extension

Preparing young people to be positive and contributing members of society is one of the most important tasks facing our society today.

The 4-H Youth Development does just that. We all know the four “H’s” stand for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.

Head: 4-H gets the youth thinking. They will learn how to think as team members and to work with others to accomplish goals. They will discover the world around them and build the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to be strong, self-directed and productive adults.

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July — Independence Day — a time for our country to celebrate our independence. Many people will celebrate Independence Day with family picnics and gatherings, mini-vacations and fireworks.

This year, use the Fourth of July celebration to motivate yourself to take steps to become financially independent by next year.

Imagine how much more enjoyable summertime fun could be if you have financial freedom. Start by setting a financial independence goal.

Summer is officially here, and with it comes some pesky bugs that like to make us itch. For this week’s column, we are going to take a closer look at one of these insects that can really make us itch: chiggers.

Chiggers are actually the immature stage of certain mite species, and are found most often in overgrown bushy areas. They also congregate in shady, humid areas near stream banks, under or around shade trees or in berry thickets.

Another successful 4-H/Open Livestock Show at the Carroll County Fair is officially in the books.

This year’s shows included poultry, rabbit, sheep, swine, goat, beef and horse. Joyce Doyle and I could not have had such great results from the livestock shows if it was not for the amazing volunteers who helped us — Jim and Sharon Graves, and Vince Sanchez.

As we begin the annual canning season, many questions arise regarding home canned products. Here are a few common questions from readers and answers giving accurate information.

• How long will canned food keep? If properly sealed and stored in a cool, dry place, home canned food should keep for up to two years. However, for best quality, use within a year. Canned food stored in a warm place may lose some of its quality in a few weeks or months, depending on the temperature. Dampness may corrode metal lids, causing leakage and spoilage of the food.

JCTC’s commencement ceremony was Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

About 500 students participated in the ceremony, where the college awarded a record 1,201 associate’s degrees, as well as 131 diplomas and 3,194 certificates to a total of 1,738 graduates. Many students earned more than one credential.